When I first entered the crypto world in 2016, I didn't understand what candlestick charts were at all. I just heard that someone bought a house with Bitcoin, and out of impulse, I went all in. Over three years, I lost 600,000 yuan, and at the worst, I was trembling at the trading interface at 3 a.m., with cigarette butts piling up in the ashtray.

But now that I think about it, those "tuition fees" were not paid in vain. Over the past four years, my annualized returns have exceeded 50%. The key is not some advanced algorithm, but a few ironclad rules that I’ve learned through repeated market experience.

**Rule 1: Don’t act if you don’t understand**

I’ve developed a habit—before the market opens, I review three cycles of candlestick charts. The weekly chart sets the overall direction, the daily chart shows the trend, and the 4-hour chart helps find precise entry points. As long as I don’t see a pattern I’ve verified over a hundred times (like MACD golden cross combined with Bollinger Band squeeze), no matter how much the group screams "the night before a surge," I stay put.

Honestly, this is like playing cards—why push when you don’t know how to cheat? That’s not gambling; that’s just giving away money.

**Rule 2: Timing is crucial**

Veterans in the crypto circle know this well—there are many false rumors during the Asian trading hours, often causing a spike and then nothing. But after 9 p.m., when major Western traders finish dinner and go online, the market begins to reveal its true face. Currently, 80% of my trades are concentrated between 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., with only about 10% of funds used during the day to test the waters.

**Rule 3: Take profits when you can**

If I make a profit, for example, earning 1,500 USD, I immediately transfer 500 USD to my bank card. The remaining amount I can play with as I wish, but at least the principal and profits are secured. This way, I avoid losing everything in a greedy all-in, and I can stay rational in subsequent trades.